On December 20th, 2010 the Minnesota Vikings were forced to play a home game against the Chicago Bears at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium because the Metrodome had collapsed. The night had long been planned as the night the 50 greatest Vikings would be announced and in attendance. It turned out to be the perfect way to celebrate our historic past as winter warriors. The Vikings played outside for the first 20 years of the franchise (1961-81). I was in attendance and took these pictures. From left to right are: Daunte Culpepper, Robert Smith, John Randle, Cris Carter, Randall McDaniel, Henry Thomas, Keith Millard, Chris Doleman, Anthony Carter, Carl Lee, Joey Browner, Steve Jordan, Tim Irwin, Scott Studwell, Tommy Kramer, Sammy White, Ahmad Rashad, Matt Blair, Chuck Foreman, Jeff Siemon, John Gilliam, Matt Blair, Stu Voigt, Ed White, Wally Hilgenberg's son...Wally passed away in 2008 of ALS, Gene Washington, Alan Page, Bobby Bryant, Dave Osborn, Gary Larsen, Carl Eller, Fred Cox, Roy Winston, Mick Tinglehoff, Ed Sharockman, Bill Brown, Jim Marshall....and the original Viking mascot...Hub Meeds. Not pictured are: Grady Alderman, Fran Tarkenton, Gary Zimmerman, Randy Moss, Matt Birk, Hall of Fame Head Coach Bud Grant, Steve Hutchinson, Adrian Peterson, Antoine Winfield, Jared Allen, and Kevin Williams. The last five of which were in the locker room at the time. The second picture is our famed Purple People Eaters defensive line of the 1970s. Jim Marshall, Alan Page, Gary Larsen, Carl Eller, and Doug Sutherland who replaced Larsen in 1975.

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Shadrack_Jones, 6 years agoRemember Brent McClanahan? He's a friend of mine, we taught together at South Bakersfield High School.

VikingFan82, 6 years agoHe was before my time, I know about him however. My father definitely remembers him! My father (born in 1948) grew up in Barstow and Bakersfield roughly 1954-65, then moved to Minnesota. He doesn't remember him from those days but he sure was proud to have a former Bakersfield boy playing for his team! We both have some of his cards.

Shadrack_Jones, 6 years agoBrent graduated from South in '69 and went to Arizona State. We actually played against each other when I was at San Jose State. He teaches business at South. I'm the AD at North Bakersfield H.S. and we get together at the North-South game each year.

VikingFan82, 6 years agoVery cool! He and Chuck Foreman were a good one-two punch in the mid-1970s. Does he ever make it up here for any Viking events?

Shadrack_Jones, 6 years agoI don't know if he does or not. I also know a guy named, Doug Mayberry, who played on the first Viking team. He ended up with the Raiders and I used to go watch him play with them.

VikingFan82, 6 years agoWow, I had to look that one up! A guy that backed up our Purple People Eaters in the 1970s, a guy named "Benchwarmer Bob" Lurtsema owned a few restaurants here in the 90s, lived right by us. I still see him every once in a while, I can't say I know him, but he recognizes me.